MOTORING AND LIQUOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20560, 10 May 1930, Page 12

MOTORING AND LIQUOR.

GRADES OF DRUNKENNESS

"INTOXICATION IN THE AIR."

[FROM OUr. OWN COP. RESPONDENT.] LONDON. April -1

In a debate on the Road Traffic Bill in the Commons Mr. G. 11. Oliver mado a plea for drivers suffering from " the fourth kind of drunkenness." " It was Charles Dickens, I believe," lie declared, " who said there were three kinds of drunkenness —amnions, dignified and quarrelsome. There is another kind, and the action of the man who suffers from it is in many cases commendable. Those who have driven much on the road know the sleepiness which overcomes one when thcro is no question of intoxicating liquor." Amid cnv* of "Shame," Mr. Oliver continued: "I have known drivers who have only had 0110 glass of beer and in consequence of the amount of fresh air they had—" Mr. Oliver got no further. J lis speech was interrupted by loud laughter from both sides. " There is an intoxication in fresh air,'' ho added. " Overpowering sleepiness overcomes one when there is no question of drink." When the committee were discussing Clause 15, which provides for the punishment of persons driving, or in charge of, a motor vehicle when under the inlluenco of drink. Lord Erskine moved t!ie omission of 'I ho -words "■ when in charge of.' He quoted the case of a motorist who. after a farmers' dinner, was not quite in a condition to drive his car and came to the conclusion that he would not drive. Ife p,irked the car and went to sleep inside. Tie was charged by a constablo with being drunk , while in charge of a motor-car and wan convicted. Surely that was not right,

Sir James Melville, Solieitor-f'oneral, said ho sympathised with the unhealthy sf,'ifn of fhe mind of ,the noble lord's friend. Hut that did not affect t lie point i.hat. so long as a man was responsible for a car, he ought to bo amenable to the law.